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L. MAOOMBER.

GENTEIFUGAL GRAIN AND STRAW SBPARATOR.

No. 541,769. Patented June 25, 195.

LZ z LYNNE WTMACOMBER, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGN OR TO THE I ADVANCE TI IRESHER glPECIFICATION forming part of, Letters Patent No.

CQMPANY, OF SAME, PLACE.

541,769, dated June 25,1895.

Applicatlonfiled March 30,1395. Serial No. 543,891. momma.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYNNE W. 'MACOMBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Battle Greek, in the county of-Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements inCentrifugal Grain and Straw Separators, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of myiuvention to apply the principleof centrifugal action to the separation of grain from straw; and to provide an apparatus capable of attachment beneath or adjacent to a thrashing cylinder and having such construction and mode of operation that the grain and straw thrown from the thrashing cylinder will be received in a funnel shaped receiver, be drawn therefrom at one end and thrown, by currents ofair and by centrifugal force, against the inner periphery of a revolving drum through which thegrain and straw are separated by centrifugal action aided by currents of air induced along the' outside of said rotary drum to produce a blast that will blow the separated straw and chaif away from the grain whilethe latter is allowed to escape through a separate outlet.

' inder.-

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of my improved grain and straw separating apparatus; and Fig. 2is

a central vertical section of the same on the line 05-01; of Fig. 1.

The reference numeral 1, in the drawings, designates a threshing cylinder of any usual or suitable construction, and which may form part of an ordinary thrashing machine.

Below and partly inclosing the thrashing cylinder, or in any other convenient and proper rclation thereto, is located a funnel shaped receiver 2 that is open both at top and bottom. This receiver 2 is preferably stationary and may be supported in any .convenient or appropriate manner. The funnel shaped receiver 2 should be so located and arranged that it will readily receive the grain and straw thrown off from the thrashing cyl' A rotary-shat t 3 is placed vertically through the center of the funnel-shaped receiver and is extended above and .below the same. .At its lower cndthe shaft 3 may be stopped in a step-beari ng,

currents are induced bearing 4 providedon asuitable sill or beam 5, and above the receiver 2 another shaftbearing 6 is provided. The shaft 3 may be rotated by power applied through a pulley 7,

lower portion of the per horizontally flanged portion of a boss 1O secured to the shaft '3 immediately above its or at some other convenient point below the receiver. The side walls of the rotary-drum 8 are inclined so as to flare outwardly and upward to correspond with the inclined walls of the funnel-shaped receiver 2, but do not extend so far as the top of said receiver.

At its top the conoidal shaped rotary-drum 8 is open. receiver 2 communicates at the bottom with the annular spaces between the stationary receiver and the surrounding rotary-drum S in such manner as to provide a passage 11, Fig. 2, on all sides, straw delivered from the thrashing cylinder. In this annular passageway 11 the grain and straw are carried upward and outward by the centrifugal action caused by rotation of the drum, during which operation the centrifugal 8 force, together with the air currents drawn} through the passage 11, will effect a thprough separation of the mingled materials, 1; i

The rotary-drum 8 is surrounded ant suits able distance by flaring casing 12, and this, in turn, sure rounded by an outer casing 13 of simila u' form, Between the outside of the rotary-dru in 8 and the inner casing 12 is an annular passage 11.4., Fig. 2, open attop and, bottom. passage 14 are arranged a number of veriijf, cally inclined fan blades 15 that are rigidly secured to the outside of the flaring rotary drum .8, so as to be revolved with said drum. By the action of these fans 15 rotary drum, the airbeing;v drawn upward an upward and oi it tvardlyl for exit of the grain and l r l In the an nul: ii 5* Y upward aniron on the outside of the -from between the spaced apart sills or beams 5 into the annular passage 14, through the same and out at the top. The induction of upward air currents may be also facilitated by means of fans 16 arranged above the annular space 17, between the casings l2 and13 and carried by arms 18 attached at intervals to the top of the rotary drum.

The grain and straw delivered by the thrashing cylinderinto the funnel or receiver 2, and carried by centrifugal action upward through the inner annular passage 11, will be completely separated on arriving at the top of the rotary-drum. At this point the wheat or other grain,'escaping from the open top of the outwardly flaring rotary-drum S, will be thrown by centrifugal force outward and over into the top of the outer annular passage l7 between the inner and outer casings of the apparatus. Through this passage 17 the separated grain will descend by gravity and may be conducted oft through suitable outlets at the bottom. In the meantime the upward draft of air currents, induced by the action of the fans 15 in the intermediate annular passage 14, outside the rotary-drum, will blow off the straw and any light chatl mingled therewith,and these will pass out between the fans 16 above the descending outlet passage 17 for the grain. The action of these fans 16 will cause upward air currents of sutiicient strength to carry the straw and chaff away from the grain passage l7and prevent them from falling therein. The blast caused by the fans 16 will force the straw from the ma chine to the stack through any suitable funnel or'tube 19, thus constituting a wind stacker.

In order to more eii'ectually assist in the separation of the grain from the chaff and straw there may be arranged at the top of the outer casing 13 an annular partition or wind board 20, under which the grain will pass downward into the passage 17, while the chaff, and straw are blown outward above said partition; and, if desired, the partition may be provided with suitable means for giving it a vertical adjustment. As a means for etfcct ing this vertical adjustment, the under side of the board or partition 20 may be provided with wedge 21 resting upon and adapted to slide on stationary supports 22 secured in the outer casing of the apparatus. On the movable partition 20 is a lever 23, through which partial rotation may be imparted to the partition to cause the wedges 21 to ride on the supports 22 and thus raise or lower the partition according to the direction in which the lever 23 is moved. By this vertical adjustment of the partitionfit) the inlet into the annular wheat passage 1.7 may be increased or diminished, as desired.'

A windguard 24 may be placed at the top of the funnel 2and adjacent to the thrashing cylinder, to direct the grain and straw into the funnel-shaped receiver.

It will be clearly seen that withan apparatus of this character, arranged for utilizing sat res centrifugal force, a thorough and cleanly separation of grain from its straw can be readily and economically effected. The annular passages provided in the apparatus are of such character and dimensions that they cannot possibly become choked and will at all times afford ready exit for the materials treated.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is I 1. In a grain separator, thecombination of a receiver open at both ends and adapted for reception of grain andstraw from a thrashing cylinder, a rotary-dru'nrcommunicating with and nearly surrounding said receiver and having one end closed and the other end open, whereby a n annular passage is provided between said communicating receiver and rotary-drum for the separation of grainby centrifugal force, a casing surrounding the rotary drum at a distance, and a series of fans supported by and carried on the outside of the rotary-drum and in the annular passage between said drum and its casing, for the induction of upward drafts of air to drive ott' the straw and chaff from the separated grain, sub stantially as described.

2. In a grain separator, the combination of a funnel shaped receiver for reception of grain and straw from a thrashing cylinder, a rotarydrutncommunicating with and nearly surrounding the same to provide an annular passage for the separation of grain by centrifugal force, an inner casing surrounding the re tary'drum and forming an annular passage. therewith fortho passage of an upward air draft, fans located in said annular passage and attached to and carried by the rotarydrum, an outer casing that forms with said inner casing an annular passage for descent of grain thrown by centrifugal forcefromtlie top of the rotary-drum, anda series of fans arranged at the top of said outer annular passage and carried by the rotarydru'm, sub-;

stantially as described.

3. In a grain separator, the combination of a stationary funnel or receiver; adapted for the separation of grain andhstraw from a' thrashing cylinder, a rotary-drum open at the top and. having upward and outwardly tiaring sides nearly surrounding said receiver, the said rotarydrurn being provided with a ICO IIO

closed bottom or lower end and supported be low the said receiver and in communication with its lower end, fans carried on the outer side of said rotary-drum, and inner and outer casings surrounding the drum and forming concentrically arranged annular passages, substantially as and for the purpose described.

t. In a grain separator, the combination with a thrashing cylinder, of a receiverlocated adjacent to said cylinder and adapted to receive grain and straw therefrom, a rotary drum open at the top and having upward and outwardly flaring sides nearly surrounding said receiver and. a closed. lower end in communication with the lower ond of the receiver, fans carried on the outer side of the rotary drum, inner and outer casings surrounding the drum and forming concentrieally arranged annular passages, and an ann ular horizontally arranged and vertically adjustable partition above the top of the outer annular passage, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a grain separator, the combination with athrashing cylinder, ofa receiverlocated adjacent to said cylinder and adapted to receive grain and straw therefrom, a rotary drum open at the top and having a. closed lower end in communication with the re.- ceiver and upward and outwardly flaring sides nearly surrounding said receiver, concentric annular passages surrounding the rotary drum, fans mounted upon the outside of the drum and Within theinner one of said annular passages, and fans carried by said drum and arranged to operate above the outer annular passage, su'listantially as and for the purpose described.

G. In a grain separator, the combination with a thrashing" cylinder, of a receiver for grain and straw from said cylinder, a rotary drum open at the top and having a closed lower end in communicationwith the receiver and provided with upwardly and outwardly flaring sides partly surrounding said receiver, concentric annular passages surrounding the rotary-drum, tans mounted upoi the outside of the drum and within the inner annular passage, fans carried by said drum and arranged to operate above the enter annular passage, and a tube for the delivery of and having upward andoutwardly flaring sides partly surrounding" closed lower end in communication with the lower end of the receiver, inn erand outer casings surrounding the drum and forming concentric annular passages, an annular partition adjustably supported above the top of the outer aunular passage, fans carried by the rotary-driun for the delivery of chaff and straw above said partitioinaud a tube for conveying; away the chailf and straw, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

said receiver, and a- LYNNE WI MACOAll-KER. Witnesses:

(nAnLns E. THOMAS, ALFRED I illauuour. 

